ProbableNamed from the place
castles in Spain
noun · first attested Middle English
Medieval French daydreamers put their imaginary castles in Moorish Spain.
Daydreams or grand schemes with no foundation in reality.
Record
- Relationship
- Named from the place
- Confidence
- ProbableThe conventional story is likely, with caveats.
- Attested
- Middle English
- Part of speech
- noun
Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.
- Step 1
Spain
- In English
castles in Spain
English took the image from the Old French chateaux en Espagne, which appears in the Roman de la Rose and reached English readers through Chaucer. The usual explanation is that a knight could hold no land in Muslim-ruled Spain, making a castle there pure fantasy; that reading is a later reconstruction rather than a medieval gloss.
Also pinned to Spain
3 more from the same place
Spain
All 20 entries 16 more words from Spain
mayonnaiseOne story ties the sauce to Mahón. Many etymologists are not convinced.MahónsherryThe wine is an English attempt at saying Jerez.Jerez de la FronteracanaryThe bird is named for the islands. The islands are named for dogs.Canary IslandsmajolicaThe Italian pottery is named for a Spanish island.MallorcazarzuelaThe Spanish operetta is named for a royal hunting lodge.Palacio de la ZarzuelabilboThe Elizabethan sword is named for a Basque port.BilbaoCastile soapThe olive oil soap is named for a Spanish kingdom.CastileSeville orangeThe marmalade orange is named for an Andalusian city.Seville